Compelling stories captivate attention, evoke emotional reactions, and inspire action.
Sharing real-life stories of hope through the mobile People of Hope Museum touched the hearts of hundreds of people who visited the museum in Philadelphia last week.
Hosted by Catholic Charities of Philadelphia (CCoP), the museum was parked outside the Cathedral Basilica of SS. Peter and Paul June 25-26.
Housed in a retrofitted tractor-trailer, the People of Hope Museum offered an immersive experience for visitors who could listen to videos of staff and volunteers of Catholic Charities agencies across the country sharing their meaningful encounters with individuals and families in need.
(See a related photo gallery of the mobile museum here.)
Among the 40 videos was one that featured the story of Peter Greenland, program supervisor for CCoP’s Good Shepherd Program at St. John’s Hospice, a center city Philadelphia shelter that helps men transition from homelessness to independent living.
Greenland’s story demonstrates how the shelter transformed his life, allowing him to go from homeless resident at St. John’s to leading the ministry’s residential services for medically fragile men.
The museum has an interactive display with examples of real-life situations of people who are forced to make difficult decisions while trying to survive on limited incomes.
Visitors could select one of the potential solutions and learn about the impact that each choice might have.
An interactive map also showed the poverty levels of each state in the country along with information on residents’ median income.
Donna Romero, community resource director for CCoP’s Nutritional Development Services, explores an interactive poverty simulation display at the People of Hope Museum. The exhibit highlights the difficult financial decisions families face when surviving on limited incomes. (Photo by Bradley Digital)
Tim Walz, director of marketing for Catholic Charities of Philadelphia, noted that some visitors spent almost an hour in the museum.
“What I found amazing was seeing young folks, older folks, people from different backgrounds immersing themselves in what it’s like to be in the shoes of some of our neighbors,” Walz said.
He witnessed the effect the stories had on people as they watched the videos.
“The examples we had here of numerous individuals from Catholic Charities USA and their stories, some of them put a huge smile on your face,” Walz said. “Some of them leave you almost crying to hear the situation that people are in, but it gives you so much hope.”
The mobile museum tour started in March and will make stops across the country through 2028. The tour was made possible thanks to a 2024 grant of nearly $5 million from Lilly Endowment Inc. through its National Storytelling Initiative on Christian Faith and Life.
Jorge Frausto from San Luis Potosi, Mexico, and his son Jorge stopped by the museum after touring the cathedral.
“It’s great that it’s interactive so you can actually see some stories and how the Church has always been a great source of support and help to society,” Frausto said. “It’s incredible the amount of people who need help, and we don’t even realize that.”
Heather Huot, secretary and executive vice president of Catholic Charities of Philadelphia, hopes the stories shared through the mobile museum inspire people to help in their communities.
“The love of Christ starts in our own home, so I really hope they walk away hearing these stories of how people are helping each other and then are inspired to do that at home,” Huot said.
She added that the stories also highlight the impact on the people who help those in need.
“These stories aren’t just about the person who came in for help, but us who do the helping because we’re changed just as much as they are,” Huot said. “It shows the real power of this work.”
Noting the “quiet” work that Catholic Charities does every day for individuals and families across the Philadelphia region, Huot was pleased the museum helped make that work more visible.
“I often say we’re too humble here in Catholic Charities,” she said. “The Church is a force for incredible good in our communities, and I hope by having something like this museum on the (Benjamin Franklin) Parkway where there’s so much going on that people start to notice the real impact of an organization like ours.”
Huot emphasized how these stories can inspire optimism about the future of the world.
“We hear so much negativity, but if we really start to focus on some of the positive, hopeful things, it spreads,” she said.
To learn more about the People of Hope Museum, visit www.peopleofhope.us. To explore volunteer opportunities or learn more about CCoP programs, visit ccphila.org.
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